Chapter 185: Chapter 87: Each More Cautious Than the Last

In these three years,

besides a slight improvement in the Divine Soul, the Melted Spirit Sand from the past has been completely exhausted. The Fourth Layer of the Spiritual Sand Body Refining Skill has just reached completion, and the physical body can withstand a full-force strike from an Early Stage of Core Formation cultivator.

It was at this moment, when the Fourth Layer of the Body Refining Skill, which only the Saint Heirs of the Central Domain Sacred Land could cultivate, was perfected, an indescribable energy stirred the heavens and the earth.

Ordinary Body Refining Skills merely make the body as powerful as a Demon Beast, but now, Li Jizhou felt that this Body Refining Skill brought about a qualitative transformation to his body, including his internal organs, vaguely reminiscent of the initial acceptance by heaven and earth experienced during Qi Cultivation.

“Could this be the so-called method of physical enlightenment?” Li Jizhou felt this was profound and mysterious.

Moreover, in three years, eighteen Tier Three Talismans were completely replaced to serve as the foundational array base for Tier Two Talismans, their power unfathomable.

Additionally, three more Tier Three Puppets were added.

Now there are six Tier Three Puppets blended with Demon Pills, each possessing the power equivalent to the Early Stage of Core Formation.

Also, after nearly three years, the much-anticipated Tier Three poison, “Withering Silence Across a Thousand Miles,” was successfully developed, and it perfectly integrated with a Tier Three Array Formation.

“Xiaobai, stop the smelting, come in for a rest, and adjust to your best condition,” Li Jizhou called to halt Bai Yi, who was smelting Tier Four Dragon Saliva Cold Gold in the Fire Gathering Array.

A year ago, the Tier Three Fire Gathering Array was set up, and Bai Yi’s powers had greatly increased within the array, allowing him to smelt Tier Four materials. With another six months for practice, he would prepare to craft his own life-bound Magical Artifact.

But at this moment, Li Jizhou needed him to be in peak condition to prepare for potential unforeseen events.

As for Guagua, there was no need for concern, always at full strength, and a few years ago, he accidentally encountered a Top-Grade offensive Magical Artifact suited for him. Li Jizhou accepted it and gave it to him, significantly increasing his combat power.

After sorting through all his hidden cards, Li Jizhou compiled all the information on Feihong Immortal Manor and reviewed it once more.

The flying Magical Artifact refining market in the Yan Kingdom was monopolized by four Artifact Refining forces.

The largest is Feihong Immortal Manor, holding a forty percent market share,

followed by the Zhang family of Refining, with a twenty-five percent share,

the Artifact Sect, with a twenty percent share,

and Red Flame Valley, with a fifteen percent share.

Years ago, under the mediation of the Trade Alliance, they established a flying Magical Artifact alliance,

pledging to advance and retreat together, maintaining consistent prices, and avoiding cutthroat competition.

However, how could the capital market truly be stable?

The rule of the winner takes all remains eternal.

In recent years, Feihong Immortal Manor has earned more and more with its larger market share, reinvesting heavily in research and innovation, thus expanding its market share further.

But this was due to its capabilities, and the other three were discontent but could say nothing.

However, just two years ago,

in Fenghuo Immortal City at the southernmost end, an Early Stage Core Formation cultivator inadvertently sparked an open and secret struggle among the four families.

The aura and vitality of that cultivator were stable, and he was even willing to sign a contract using his own aura and vitality, paying a deposit.

Originally, he had negotiated the intention to purchase ten Tier Two Top-Grade flying ships at the Zhang family’s shop,

and the Zhang family offered him the lowest price within the alliance’s agreed range. Both parties had almost reached a deal.

Half a day had not passed when that cultivator returned with the contract, demanding to cancel the intention because Feihong Immortal Manor offered a lower price, beneath the agreed range of the flying Magical Artifact alliance.

The argument between the parties was fierce, ultimately resulting in the Early Stage Core Formation cultivator tearing up the contract even if it meant forfeiting the deposit.

Several months later, another Late Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, initially negotiating everything satisfactorily with Feihong Immortal Manor and paying a deposit, ripped up the contract to sign a new one with the Artifact Sect.

After several more occurrences like this, the flying Magical Artifact alliance finally started engaging in open and secret conflicts.

Now, two years later, the four families have reached the point of mutually undercutting each other to the extreme, thoroughly tearing into each other.

Yesterday’s bulletin reported that the three families had united against Feihong Immortal Manor and have already begun engaging in full-blown confrontation. A junior from Feihong Immortal Manor died amidst the chaos.

Today’s bulletin reported that all four families refused the mediation of the Trade Alliance, and the three families have already gathered within Feihong Immortal Manor’s territory.

It seems they all know the methods of the Trade Alliance, fear its intervention, and ultimately want to ensure that all four do not end up as losers, preferring to determine winners and losers among themselves.

The report also mentioned that all four families are rallying people.

Those cultivators who ordered flying ships in Fenghuo Immortal City two years ago were naturally Li Jizhou.

There, no Spiritual Artifacts of the Trade Alliance can probe the origins, and the less developed the place, the fiercer the competition amongst the four families.

Utilizing stored Magical Power and vitality from the Rings of Time, the contracts were signed using the aura and vitality of Master Han and Han Zhuo, unrelated to Li Jizhou himself.

It was done out of necessity.

Otherwise, knowing Qin Changhong’s temperament and character, if he learned that he later obtained fine Crystal Condensing Pills, he might take it as humiliation and react with fury,

and causing trouble would be troublesome indeed.

Such potential hidden dangers could undermine his Golden Core Formation and must be resolved for peace of mind in Core Formation.

“There should be no loopholes!” Li Jizhou smiled slightly, instructing Bai Yi to sense the position of the Anomalous Fire within Alchemist Xue’s Dantian.

Of course, Alchemist Xue was a must-have as well. With him stationed in Liuyun City, his Golden Core Formation could not remain concealed.

Additionally, Li Jizhou harbored great expectations for Alchemist Xue—Tier Three Alchemy Dao inheritance, Anomalous Fire…

Until the moon hung atop willow tips, Li Jizhou activated a Tier Three Illusionary Truth Talisman in the quiet chamber, producing a duplicate with identical aura and form.

Then, he affixed a Tier Two Concealment Talisman onto Guagua, mounted its back, and escaped from Liuyun City.

In one breath, traveling three thousand miles from Liuyun City, Li Jizhou dismounted from Guagua, hid inside a towering giant tree, and activated the aura and vitality of Han Zhuo stored in the Rings of Time, quietly awaiting.

As the next day’s sun reached high, the sky wide and vast,

Bai Yi sensed the Anomalous Fire within Alchemist Xue’s Dantian begin to move.

This location was a necessary route from Liuyun City to Feihong Immortal Manor, and because of its proximity to Liuyun City, robber cultivators rarely appeared.

A moment later, a faint smile emerged on Li Jizhou’s lips, and he gathered his spirits.

Alchemist Xue’s Pill Fire had already left the city.

However, just at that moment, a figure caught Li Jizhou’s eye.

He saw Alchemist Xue riding a flying ship, passing over the trees where he was concealed.

“…” Li Jizhou frowned slightly. Were it not for his faith in Bai Yi’s sensing of the Anomalous Fire’s attributes, he might have acted.

The fact that it flew just overhead was too genuine, even matching the aura of a Middle Stage Core Formation entirely.

The only two differences being that its body lacked the aura of Anomalous Fire, and its lifespan was zero.

“Clone? Substitute Puppet?” This expanded Li Jizhou’s horizons.

This method would be virtually impossible in his previous life in the Liang Kingdom or even the Qi Kingdom.

It made him wary of underestimating Alchemist Xue.

Grown shrewd with age, perhaps he possessed unknown methods.

Li Jizhou immediately altered his strategy.

Originally, he planned to minimize loss, considering Alchemist Xue’s poor condition,

observed multiple times in close proximity three years ago; his aura was quite unstable. The realm barely maintained the Middle Stage of Core Formation, but his actual Magical Power was thin, possibly weaker than some in peak Early Stage Core Formation.

Yet, having seen his cautious nature and unexpected methods now, Li Jizhou decided not to hold back.

After the clone passed a distance, Bai Yi finally sensed the Anomalous Fire moving at the city gate!

“Is everyone in the cultivation world such cautious saints?” Li Jizhou felt amused.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep